With the new FCX, Honda will take the next step in taking hydrogen powered cars beyond the laboratory.

As in the Honda Civic, the FCX's digital speedometer is separate from the rest of gauges, placed just under the windshield.

A large central gauge, shown here, displays what the car's electric motor is doing, moment by moment. Outside is a tachometer that shows how fast the motor is spinning. It goes below zero because sometimes the motor acts as a generator. Driven by a device in the car's brakes, the motor can spin backwards, producing electricity that is sent back to the batteries.

The circle in the center indicates how much hydrogen is being used. When no hydrogen is being consumed, the circle is small and blue. As more hydrogen is flowing to the fuel cell, the ball grows in size and changes from blue to green to orange to yellow.

The blue shading to the right of the "hydrogen ball" indicates how much hydrogen is left in the tank.

To be a 'Top Pick', a vehicle must score at or near the top of its category in Consumer Reports' testing, must have at least average reliability and must perform well in government and Insurance Institute crash tests. (more)